My 200th Post and Half Way Around the Planet

Today I have reached a milestone in my blogging.  This is my 200th post.  When I started this blog, I never imagined that I would be able to come up with new ideas or content.  I also never thought I would have anyone read my musings.  As of today, I have written 200 posts and had 37,959 page views.  I know that is not a lot compared to what other bloggers get on their pages.  But I am thrilled that people read it and hopefully gain some insight into running that maybe they hadn't thought of before.  Or maybe some of my other musings made them think about those issues differently. Whatever the case, I am hopeful that I can keep coming up with ideas to write about over the next several weeks as I prepare for the NYC Marathon.

When I realized that I had reached this milestone, I went back to look at how many miles I have run since starting this blog on October 3, 2008.  It has almost been 8 years since I started.  So I totaled up all the miles from the beginning of this blog through today's run.  Drum roll!!! I have logged 12,571 total miles.  To put that total in perspective, it is the equivalent of 480 marathons.  The circumference of the Earth is 24,901 miles.  This means that I have run enough miles to be half way around the planet today.  Finally, the distance across the United States, from Florida to Washington, is 2,802 miles. This represents the longest straight line distance across the United States.  I have run a lot of miles in the last 8 years.  I cannot imagine how many miles I have run since my first run in 1985.

My marathon training thus far has gone pretty much as expected.  It is really warm here and most days I am running in 85 degree or higher temperatures.  Arizona is also in the midst of its monsoon season.   Here in Arizona monsoon season begins around June 15 and ends around September 30. Since moving here, I have noticed that the rain storms peak between mid-July and mid-August.  The monsoon season is when we receive about half of our annual rainfall.  For me it means that not only is it hot when I am training but it is much more humid than normal as well.  Regardless, I am getting out there 6 days a week and training hard.

I am going to keep this post short.  But wanted to share a piece from Jeff Galloway's Runner's World column that I believe explains why runners like me get out there every day.  He was asked, "How often can I expect a great run?"  Jeff answered by saying, "Not every run will be great (or even good), but the longer you follow a consistent running schedule, the more often you can expect to enjoy yourself.  Each year I have about a dozen great runs. Effort, terrain, weather, and my state of mind all have come together just right to produce this sense of joy."  Amen to that!

I can tell you that I have at least that many great runs every year too.  Sometimes it happens during a simple training run and sometimes it happens during a race.  When it does happen it is magical.  I know that I will experience these great runs when I am focused solely on my breathing and  taking in the world I am running through.  That dreamlike state is when it all comes together and the peacefulness of the world allows me to feel the good vibes created by the effort.  Then I am truly experiencing the "runner's high" we all are seeking.  I know that you too can experience it so long as you let it come to you.

See you out there on the roads and on to Week 6 of marathon training!

Aug. 1 – 6.20 miles (1:08:05, 10:59 pace) - Hill Repeats
Aug. 2 – 6.50 miles (59:42, 9:11 pace) - Speed Work
Aug. 4 – 8.20 miles (1:14:25, 9:05 pace) - Tempo Run
Aug. 5 – 7.20 miles (1:09:00, 9:35 pace)
Aug. 6 – 10.20 miles (1:38:40, 9:40 pace)
Aug. 7 – 12.20 miles (2:01:26, 9:57 pace)

Total Miles:  50.5 miles
2016 Total Miles:  1,162.2 miles